Collapsible chicken crate



Aug. 18, 1931. T. E. cooK 1,819,735

COLLAPS IBLE CHICKEN CRATE Filed July 11, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7/ 23 Inventor A ttorn ey Aug. 18, 1931. T, E, OOK 1,819,735

COLLAPS IBLE CHICKEN CRATE Filed July 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In venior Patented Aug. 18, 19 31" THOMAS E. COOK, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN PATE T oFFic GOLLAPSIBLE CHICKEN CRATE Application filed July 11,

This invention relates to collapsible chicken crates and an object of the invention is to provide a crate that may be collapsed into a smaller space so as to facilitate the storage and return transportation thereof in a minimum of space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible joint so constructed that when the crate is in the open position and 710 ready for use, a locking means may be brought into association at the joint, whereby the load or weight piled upon the top of the crate will be maintained so as to prevent crushing of the crate.

7 Further objects of the invention are to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth a device of the character referred to, which is strong, compact and durable, thoroughly reliable for its intended purpose, very simple g in its method of assembly, andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the'foregoing and other objects in view, the inven'tion'consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangements of g5 parts'as will be hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the claims hereunto appended.

' I In the drawings, wherein like reference characters 7, denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, in accordance with the present invention, in extended position. 7 Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

' Figure 3 is an end view thereof.

1929. Serial No. 377,528.

.other, and each of the bars 8, 9, are spaced from the ends of the upper frame.

A substantially square foraminous cover is slidably mounted in the channels of the U- shaped'bars 8 and 9, tocover an opening so that the chickens or other fowl may be placed in or taken from the crate. The cover 12 is formed of reticulated fabric. Intermediate the ends of the ends 13, 14, of the upper rec tangular frame 6 are a pair of hooks 15, 16, rotatably connected therewith, so that the 4 ends of the hooks will swing in a path tangent to a pair of slots 17, formed in one leg of each end of the upper frame. Except for the opening beneath the cover 12, the upper frame 6 is covered by chicken wire 18, secured to the sides and ends of the upper I frame, in any suitable manner." Supported at their opposite ends in the angle of the lower frame 7, are aplurality of transversely disposed longitudinally spaced floor boards 19 which form a floor for the crate and pro vide for cleaning thesame between the spaces of the boards. Adjacent the corners, the upp'osite sides of the upper and lower rectangular frames 6, 7, are hingedly connected in a manner to be presently described as indicated generally at 20,21, 22, and 23, all of the hinged connections are formed in the same manner and it is believed that a description of one will clearly teach the construction of the others. Selecting as representative of the hinged connection 24, indicates the upper arm pivoted at its upper end as at 25, to one of-the legs of the side of the upper frame 6, and pivoted at its lower end as at 26 to an intermediate portion of the lower arm 27.

The lower end of the lower arm 27 is pivoted as at 28, to one of the legs of the sides of the lower frame 7, adjacent the corner thereof. The upper edge of the lower arm 27 is formed with an arcuate recess 29, which receives the lower edge of the segmental shapedtoggle 30, pivoted as at 31, intermediate the ends of the upper arm 24, so that the arms may be locked in vertical position thereby, to support the weight of the cases when piled one upon the top of the other to pre-verit the crushing or collapsing of the crates. The ends of the bottom frame 7, on one leg thereof have a pair of eyelets 32, 33, to receive the hooks 15, 16, when the crate is in collapsed position and as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. R

A pair of substantially U-shaped sides 34, 35, have the opposite legs of each frame pivoted as at 36, 3?, to the opposite ends of the upper frame 6, whereby the same may be swung upwardly in abutment with the upper frame when the crate is collapsed in the position shown in Flgure 5 of the drawings.

Each of the side frames 34, 35, are covered with chicken wire 36. It is to be understood that the side U-shaped frames 34, 35, are of the same dimensions as the space between the sides of the upper and lower frames 6 7,

when in the extended position so as to form confining walls to prevent the fo-wls from escaping from the crate. A pair of U-shaped end frames 39, 40, have the lower ends of the legs of each frame hingedly connected as at 41, to the floor boards 19, adjacent the opposite ends of the lower frame 7, 1n such a manner as to provide clearance for the L swinging sides 34, 35. The end frames 39,

40, fold downwardly in abutment with the floor board 19, when the crate is in the collapsed position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The U-shaped end frames 3940 are covered with chicken wire, in any suitable manner, so as to prevent the fowl from escaping from the crate, and at the same time toprovidefor a maximum circulation of air.

The'end frames 39, 40 are of the same dimensions as the space between the ends of the upper and lower frames 6 7, when in the extended position, so as to form end walls for the crate. Intermediate the ends of the bight portion of the U-shaped end frame 39, 40, there is anchored a pair of staples 43, 44, that extend through the slots 17, formed in the ends 13, 14, of the upper rectangular frame 6, to receive the endsof the hooks 15, 16, to lock the end frames in open position and at the same time to provide additional supports for the crate in the extended position.

In the application of the invention, to collapse the crate from the positions shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, the hooks 1 5, 16, are detached from'the staples 43, 44 and the lower arms 27 of each hinged connection 20, 21, 22, and 23, are moved inwardly whereby the toggle latch 30 will swing out of the arcuate recess 29, to permit the folding of the upper frame 6 upon the lower frame 7, as will be clearly understood by referring to Figure 5 of the drawings. In the latter position, the hooks 15, 16, may be engaged with eyelets 32, 33, hinged to one another, to lock the frame in the closed position in Figure 5 of the drawings. The reticulated cover 12 may siide backward'to permit the removal from or the insertion into the crate, in the extended position, of chickens or otherfowl to be shipped in the crate.

It is to be understood that by describing in detail herein, any particular form, structure or arrangement it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims, or the requirements of the prior art.

WVhat is claimed is z 1. A collapsible crate comprising an open upper and an open lower horizontal frame, 5

said lower frame having floor boards anchored therein to form a bottom for the crate, open side frame hingediy connected at their upper ends to the upper frame to fol-d upwardly into abutment with the upper frame in folded position, open end frames hingedly connected at their lower ends to the floor boards at the ends of the bottom frame to collapse into abutment with the lower frame, chicken wire anchored to the upper, side and end frames to close the openings therein, said upper frame further formed with an opening in the chicken wire, a cover slidably supported on the upper frame to close said last mentioned opening, means on the upper frame cooperating with means on the end frames for locking the end frames in extended position, and means connected to the upper and lower frames independently of the side and end frames for hingedly connecting the upper and lower frames together.

2. A collapsible crate comprising an. open upper and an open lower horizontal frame, said lower frame having fioor boards anchored therein to form a bottom for the crate, open slde frames hingedly connected at their upper ends to the upper frame to fold upwardly into abutment with the upper frame in folded position, open end frames hingedly connected at their lower ends to the floor boards at the ends of the bottom frame to collapse into abutment with the lower frame, chicken wire anchored to the upper, side and end frames to close the openings therein, said upper frame 'f'urt'ljier formed with an opening in the chicken wire, a cover slidably supported on the upper frame to close said last mentioned opening, means on the upper frame '00- operatin with means on the end frames for locl'iin'g tdie end frames in extended position,

and means connected to the upper and lower frames independently of the side and end frames for hingedly connecting the upper and lower frames together, and a latch associated with said last mentioned means for locking the same in extended position. 7

3. A collapsible crate comprising an open upper and an open lower horizontal frame, said lower frame having floor boards anchored therein to forma bottom for the crate, open side frames hingedly connected at their upper ends to the upper frame to fold upwardly into abutment with the upper frame in folded position, open end frames hingedly connected at their lower ends to the floor boards at the ends of the bottom frame to collapse into abutment with the lower frame,

chicken wire anchored to the upper, side, and

end frames to close the openings therein, said upper frame further formed with an opening in the chicken wire, a cover slidably supported on the upper frame to close said last mentioned opening, means on the upper frame co-operating with means on the end frames for locking the end frames in extended position, and means connected to the upper and lower frames independently of the side and end frames for hingedly connecting the upper and lower frames together, a latch as sociated with said last mentioned means for locking the same in extended position, and co-operating means on the upper and lower frames forlocking the same together in the collapsed position.

In testlmony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS E COOK, 

